London Palladium, London

The Beatles made their debut on the top variety show of the time, Sunday Night at The London Palladium on October 13, 1963. The Palladium was, and still is, London's most famous theatre, and the show was one of the absolute moments of the band's undeniable fame. With an audience of 15 million television viewers, The Beatles delivered renditions of "From Me to You", "I'll Get You", "She Loves You", and "Twist and Shout". Their press officer recalled that following the Palladium appearance, he no longer needed to actively contact the press to generate interest in the band; instead, the press began reaching out to him.

The papers of the following day recounted scenes of frenzied fans both inside and outside The Palladium. One publication even coined the term "Beatlemania", which, contrary to some beliefs, was more than mere enthusiasm for The Beatles. During the height of Beatlemania, teenagers attempted to breach police barricades, and individuals frequently fainted. The cleaning staff at theaters dreaded Beatles concerts because fans would lose control to the extent of involuntary urination. Any subsequent "mania" that has been discussed pales in comparison to the genuine Beatlemania that truly ignited the world.

By 1964, The Beatles had permeated every facet of life and seemed to be everywhere. Their dominance was inescapable, and they reigned over nearly every aspect they touched. The "mania" began to wane toward the end of 1965 and ultimately subsided around 1970.